Annan Exempts Ambassadors From Security Searches
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has instructed his security
officers not to force inspections of ambassadors or their cars when they enter
the world body's headquarters in NYC.
This despite repeated criticisms that security at U.N. facilities, both in
the United States and abroad, is seriously deficient.
The security memo, dated Oct. 29, 2003, and obtained by NewsMax, first
explains that "all vehicles (and persons) entering UNHQ must be inspected."
Then, in the next sentence, the memo says: "... if a permanent representative
refuses [to permit an inspection] allow him to pass and enter, but note the
delegate's name, date and time." Other than the notation, no other action is
called for.
The decision came on the same day another memo from Andrew Toll, a U.N.
assistant secretary-general to the U.N.'s chief legal counsel, Hans Corell,
spoke of an "increase in comments and concerns from [U.N.] staff regarding
security issues ... in New York, this seems to be felt even stronger."
In 1994, an FBI investigation led to accusations that Libya's U.N. mission
may have assisted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
It was believed the Libyans had intended to store vans loaded with explosives
in the U.N.'s underground parking garage, which extends three stories beneath
First Avenue.
While security has improved at the U.N. facility, numerous officers say it is
still "a joke," especially with more than 200 ambassadors and their cars immune
to inspection.
It should be noted that whenever President Bush visits the United Nations,
the entire parking facility is normally shut down with no one (ambassadors
included) granted access.
The garage is also directly beneath the 38-story Secretariat building, which
houses more than 5,000 workers.
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